Viagra and the Pill; New Yorker cover

The Nightly Build...

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Viagra and the Pill

Michael Landauer, in The Dallas Morning News Opinion blog, says CNN is "awkwardly trying to embarrass" John McCain. How so? By showing him laughing nervously, squirming, and ducking when asked if it is unfair that some insurance companies offer coverage for Viagra for men but not contraceptives for women. Landauer's analysis?

"What's this all about? Nothing. Seriously, nothing. ... McCain gave a very good response to arandom question. His instinct was to avoid offering an opinion on something that is clearly a delicate situation."

Is Landauer kidding? McCain swung and missed at a fat pitch. A proper answer would have been, "Yes, it's unfair and I intend to introduce legislation to correct the injustice." Unless, of course, McCain doesn't think it's unfair. Then, he could have said, "No, I think it's fine that women can't get contraceptives under their insurance plan while me can get Viagra." Instead, the double-talk express dodged any answer at all.

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The Obamas as Terrorists

The New Yorker cover shows Barack and Michelle Obama in the Oval Office. An American flag burns in the fire place under a picture of Osama bin Laden. Barack Obama is dressed in Middle Eastern garb. Michelle Obama is dressed in fatigues with a rifle slung over his shoulder. The two are giving each other what Fox News calls "a terrorist fist jab."

In The Dallas Morning News Opinion blog, Sharon Grigsby says, "I kinda enjoy the provocation -- an in-your-face to the people who really believe that's who the Obamas are."

The cover supposedly parodies the caricature of the Obamas believed by many conservatives. Is it effective satire? No. If it were, the left, recognizing that conservatives are the butt of the joke, would appreciate the cartoon. And the right, the object of the joke, would be offended at the exaggeration of their beliefs. Yet, the reverse is the case. The artist failed to realize that it's impossible to exaggerate the right's beliefs about Obama. Those beliefs are even more extremist than any cartoon can show.